The Solder Buddy

Alasdair Allan is a scientist, author, hacker and tinkerer, who is spending a lot of his time thinking about the Internet of Things. In the past he has mesh networked the Moscone Center, caused a U.S. Senate hearing, and contributed to the detection of what was—at the time—the most distant object yet discovered.

Alasdair Allan is a scientist, author, hacker and tinkerer, who is spending a lot of his time thinking about the Internet of Things. In the past he has mesh networked the Moscone Center, caused a U.S. Senate hearing, and contributed to the detection of what was—at the time—the most distant object yet discovered.

This mechanised solder dispenser was built by design engineer Jude Pullen as an example of what could be done using ABS plastic sheeting, a broken brake cable from a bicycle, and some Sugru. The clever bit? The electrical connection to the switch is made via the solder itself and the outer windings of the brake cable.

Everything you’ll need to build your own Solder Buddy.

Along with other examples of how to use simple materials to prototype new ideas the Solder Buddy was exhibited a the Design Modelling Workshop in London earlier in the year. If you’re interested in building your own Solder Buddy, you can follow the Instructable.

Alasdair Allan is a scientist, author, hacker and tinkerer, who is spending a lot of his time thinking about the Internet of Things. In the past he has mesh networked the Moscone Center, caused a U.S. Senate hearing, and contributed to the detection of what was—at the time—the most distant object yet discovered.

Alasdair Allan is a scientist, author, hacker and tinkerer, who is spending a lot of his time thinking about the Internet of Things. In the past he has mesh networked the Moscone Center, caused a U.S. Senate hearing, and contributed to the detection of what was—at the time—the most distant object yet discovered.